State park system is worth saving

And the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reaching out to a potential rescuer: the very people who use these parks for their enjoyment.

TP&W held a series of press conferences this week across the state — including one in Amarillo — and announced it needs to raise $4.6 million to cover losses caused by forces beyond anyone’s control. Parks officials blame the current Big Two of Mother Nature’s wrath — drought and wildfires — for a dramatic loss of revenue from park visitors.

Indeed, fires across the state has frightened thousands of would-be park visitors, and with good reason that needs no explanation here.

But with that dropoff in attendance, the park system has seen a serious decline in revenue.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, one of the crown jewels of the state system, reportedly has not seen quite the decline that other parks have experienced.

But that doesn’t lessen the need for Panhandle residents to respond, if they are able, to TP&W’s call for financial help.

State officials sought at their press conference to encourage park visitation, which they estimated could recover about $3 million of the revenue shortfall. But that crippling drought and the constant threat of fire have kept people away.

Texans who are able to make monetary donations can do so by going to the park system website — www.tpwd.state.tx.us — or by contributing $5 or more when they renew their vehicle registration effective Jan. 1.

It’s clear the state isn’t going to cut money loose from other departments to make up for the revenue deficit. So, it falls on consumers to help pay a little more for the pleasure they experience when they visit our state parks.

That’s a reasonable way to help keep the park system functioning for all Texans’ enjoyment.